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4 PWD officials taken to task
14 from Amritsar crack IIT-JEE
Bluestar memorial stone to be laid tomorrow |
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Ample proof to register FIR in doctors’ recruitment case: HC
Harassment case concocted, says PSEB chairman
Urban development prime agenda, says BJP president
I’m a Sikh, insists Sadique
Akali MPs force adjournment
Cong MPs meet PM on ‘corridor’ to Sikh shrine
PMET: Police on lookout for 22 imposters
Punjab MPs hail TAPI project
Maluka suspends 2 for hiding info
State targets to generate 1,000-MW more power
Cooperatives to issue atta-dal
Centre sends reminder on unutilised funds
Armed forces institute gets indoor shooting range
Vet varsity seeks hike in budget allocation
10 medical stores raided in Malerkotla
Petition dismissed on ‘transport scam’
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4 PWD officials taken to task
Chandigarh, May 18 An inquiry, ordered by PWD Minister Sharanjit Singh Dhillon, found that these officials allegedly failed to check several "irregularities" in the project, as a result of which the road, on the state highway number 19, got washed away while some portion of the stretch developed potholes. VK Builders, the firm allotted the work, has been told to bear the loss. Dhillon has said the guilty would not be spared. The department is awaiting a reply from the officials before initiating action against them, said Chief Engineer (Quality Control Wing) Ashok Goel. An amount of Rs 9 crore was sanctioned by the Union Government to carpet the 29.35-km stretch. The contract was allotted on May 11 last year. The PWD inquiry found that the company started carpeting a seven-km stretch on the highway even though funds were sanctioned only for five kms. The quality of the road too was not found up to the mark. While the entire seven-km portion was covered with gravel and soil, bitumen was laid only on the five-km stretch. But, another top layer of semi-dense bitumen was not put, which is a must for water-proofing that saves a road during rain. Bitumen and crushed stone, too, were used than up to the required quantity. Goel said the work was stopped two months after it started as the Centre failed to release the second installment of the grant. The contractor, thus, abandoned the work. As the five-km stretch was not coated with a protective layer, it wore away soon after. The rest two-km stretch too developed potholes. The inquiry suggested that proper planning was not done before starting the work. The Rs 2-crore grant should have been spent on a small patch first and work in the second phase could have been started after the arrival of the second installment.
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14 from Amritsar crack IIT-JEE
Amritsar/Ludhiana, May 18 A brainchild of Guru Nanak Dev University Vice-Chancellor AS Brar, the academy, being financed by the state government, became operational with the selection of 50 matriculate students from rural areas of the state two years ago. Agrim Aggarwal and Vishesh Kapur obtained 747th and 1,365 ranks, respectively. Pardeep Kumar got 2,552th rank, Rohit 3,543th rank, Gurleen Singh 5,345th rank, Anmol Sher Singh 7,581th, Sagar 7,423th, Pratyush 7,700th, Gurvinder Singh 7,546th, Gurbani Pawa 9,150th, Luvpreet Singh 1,007th (SC) and Ravi 7,231th rank. All of them were trained by a private coaching
centre.
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Bluestar memorial stone to be laid tomorrow
Amritsar, May 18 Talking to mediapersons after the beginning of an 'Akhand Path' to mark the occasion, Baba Harnam Singh revealed that some designs had also been prepared for the gurdwara, but it was yet to be finalised. On the issue of "gallery of martyrs", he said they would work as per suggestions received from the SGPC. On the demand of having the memorial that was "more than a gurdwara", he said the memorial will be raised in view of the sentiments of the Sikh Sangat as well as the spiritual character of the Golden Temple Complex. He said the memorial would be built within a year. The Taksal chief said Maharaja Sher Singh Deodhi, which is opposite to the memorial site, will also be preserved, as it still bore the bullet marks dating back to Operation Bluestar in June 1984. He said they would rope in experts to preserve this structure. He also took the opportunity to clarify that the memorial will not be that of only Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale, but also of scores of innocent Sikh pilgrims who were killed in the Army operation. He dubbed the controversy regarding the blueprint of the memorial as baseless saying the memorial would be built in consonance with Sikh sentiments, traditions, 'maryada' and the holy shrine's splendour. He urged the outfits behind the controversy not to resort to such moves due to their mutual differences and political interests. "Such acts will only strengthen "anti-Panth" forces, which have been opposing the Operation Bluestar Memorial till now," he said. Regarding the foundation stone laying ceremony, Baba Harnam Singh said the five Sikh high priests would launch the "kar sewa" of the memorial in the presence of eminent Sikh personalities and members of Sant Samaj at 10 am on Sunday. He said all Panthic organisations, Taksals, sects and Akhand Kirtani jathas had been invited for the ceremony. Meanwhile, the SGPC's move to hand over the "kar sewa" of the memorial to Damdami Taksal doesn't seem to have gone down well with some political and religious groups. SAD (Amritsar), SAD (1920) and the rival faction of the Taksal have resented the step. SAD (1920) leader Raghubir Singh Rajansansi today demanded that the blueprint of the memorial should be made public and the community's views should be sought before finalising it.
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Ample proof to register FIR in doctors’ recruitment case: HC
Chandigarh, May 18 The High Court also held the state at fault for making attempts to aid the doctors, who indulged in malpractices for getting selected; and asked the Principal Secretary (Health) to file his affidavit in the matter, or remain present in the court. The directions came on a public interest litigation being argued by advocate AP Bhandari just about two years after the alleged doctors' recruitment scam, involving the Punjab Public Service Commission, came to fore. In the petition filed in public interest by Jatinder Singh against the State of Punjab and other respondents, challenge has been thrown to the issuance of no objection certificates to about 14 doctors for enabling them to appear in the counselling for post-graduation courses, even though they have faced a vigilance inquiry in the PPSC recruitment scam. Taking up the matter, the Bench of Acting Chief Justice MM Kumar and Justice Alok Singh asserted: "It appears that deliberate efforts are being made by the state to help those who have indulged in malpractices in order to secure selections." "There is adequate material available on record to come to the conclusion that it is a case where an FIR should have been registered and investigation should have been proceeded to its logical end". The Bench added: "The reply, which is sought to be filed by the director, health and family welfare, Government of Punjab, is aimed at exonerating and bailing out the 14 respondents and, in fact, is contrary to the findings in the inquiry report, which has been placed on record by the petitioner. "The inquiry was conducted by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau under the order and direction issued by the state government. We have not been able to appreciate how the director is brushing aside the issue completely and taking a stand contrary to the report." "We direct Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, Government of Punjab to file his own affidavit with regard to the queries…." The Bench added the Principal Secretary would remain "present in person" with the record in case he fails to do the needful.
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Harassment case concocted, says PSEB chairman
Chandigarh, May 18 On May 16, the controller of examination in a complaint to the police had alleged harassment at the hands of the chairman. The case has surfaced at a time when the extended one-year term of the chairman is nearing its end on July 1 and he is hoping for another extension. Countering the allegations at a press conference today, Dr Dhillon said, "The March 5 incident of harassment levelled by her is concocted. She is retaliating as the board has issued her a charge sheet after it has received affidavits from different persons on account of demanding bribe from them." Accompanied by vice-chairman Dr Suresh Tandon and secretary Balwinder Singh, the chairman produced four affidavits against her and accused her of tampering with conduct of the annual examination. On the other hand, SS Saroya said she had already filed complaints with the Principal Secretary, Education, Vigilance Bureau and the SSP, Mohali. "Instead of coming clear in the case of harassment, he is levelling baseless allegations against me. In the affidavits produced by him, I have come clear in four of the cases", she said. She said she had been suffering for the past three years but kept quiet in the interest of the board. "I have been given outstanding reports by the chairman," she said adding that she would file a defamation case against him for levelling wrong allegations. Mohali SSP GPS Bhullar said after the complaints made by the controller, the chairman had also filed complaints against her. The DSP, City-II, DS Mann, has been asked to probe the matter.
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Urban development prime agenda, says BJP president
After parleys with senior leaders from Amritsar, Jalandhar, Ludhiana and Patiala, Sharma said the party was upset at its “poor” performance in Ludhiana during the last assembly elections. “For the past six months, we have been trying to regain the party’s hold there”. The SAD and BJP have Mayors in all four corporations. Sharma said there was still a lot to be done in terms of building roads and providing clean drinking water. “We do not see the municipal poll as a rehearsal for the 2014 parliamentary elections. The BJP is primarily focusing on mobilising its cadres,” he said. Referring to the selection of candidates, the BJP state president said that the image and abilities of aspirants would be the prime criteria. He said the BJP would release its list of candidates on May 22. The candidates would contest on the party symbol in the four corporations and Class A municipal committees. He said the party had already held discussions with the SAD on seat-sharing. The BJP, that did well in Amritsar and Jalandhar during the assembly poll, is learnt to be demanding more seats in Amritsar. Sharma said the Punjab BJP had slowly strengthened itself over the past five year. On the other hand, unsure of its performance, the Congress had aleady started talking of “rigging” and “violence”. The BJP has its Mayor Shwet Malik in Amritsar and Rakesh Rathore in Jalandhar. It has Senior Deputy Mayors in Ludhiana (Pravin Bansal) and Patiala (Anil Bajaj). The SAD has its Mayors in Ludhiana and Patiala.
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I’m a Sikh, insists Sadique
Talking to The Tribune, he said: “I am a Sikh. I follow Sikh tenets. I held the wedding ceremony of one of my daughters as per Sikh rites and of the other two in accordance with Hindu rites.” Sadique said his candidature should have been rejected by the Returning Officer if there was any doubt about his SC certificate, adding that he belonged to the “Doom” caste, which according to a Presidential order, 1950, had been classified as a Scheduled Caste. Sadique has in possession a certificate by a Sub-Divisional Magistrate stating that he is a Sikh. “ I had given an advertisement in a newspaper in 2006, stating that I followed the Sikh tenants and should be regarded as a Sikh. What else do they want,” asked a rather annoyed MLA. The folk singer-turned-politician landed in controversy when his rival and SAD opponent from Bhadaur (reserved) constituency filed a petition against him last month. The Commission for Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes directed Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner to cancel his SC certificate. The DC sent the letter back to Directorate of Welfare of Scheduled Castes and Backward Classes.
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Akali MPs force adjournment
Bittu said: “I wish to apprise the House that funds provided to Punjab under various sponsored schemes have not only been diverted, but also mismanaged by the ruling SAD-BJP government.” An agitated Harsimrat was on her feet, protesting loudly as she walked into the aisle. She was joined by her party members Ratan Singh Ajnala (Khadoor Sahib) and Paramjit Kaur Gulshan (Faridkot). Even though the Speaker ruled that “nothing else will go on record,” the Akali MPs continued to protest. Bittu later stated: “The Finance Minister of Punjab has admitted the diversion of Rs 2,000 crore during the last five years of the SAD-BJP rule. Due to this violation, schemes pertaining to vital sectors like welfare, health, agriculture, rural development and irrigation have suffered badly.” Despite the din raised by the Akali MPs, an unflappable Bittu went on to add: “It is also found that the interest accrued on the centrally sponsored funds held by the state government has been adjusted in the contributory share of the state. “While conducting a meeting of the Vigilance Monitoring Committee meeting, Bhagat Singh Nagar, I have traced once such case when the DEO admitted that interest accrued on the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan has been taken back by the state office. Likewise, the state government earned a huge profit on the sale of wheat through the PDS. This wheat was released to the state at the rate of Rs 6.10 per kg and the state sold it at Rs 8.10 per kg and in the form of flour at Rs 12 per kg.” Congress member PL Punia was granted permission to speak on the matter. But the SAD members repeatedly interrupted Bittu. As nothing could be heard in the din, the Speaker adjourned the House till 2.30.
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Cong MPs meet PM on ‘corridor’ to Sikh shrine
New Delhi, May 18
Partap Singh Bajwa, Gurdaspur MP, made a written request to the PM in this regard. He was accompanied by Manish Tewari, Ludhiana MP, and Ravneet Singh Bittu, MP from Anandpur Sahib. Bajwa said the Indian and Pakistani Governments had reached an agreement to build a ‘corridor’ in 1998 to enable Sikh pilgrims to visit Kartarpur Sahib in Pakistan without a visa/passport. But there had been no progress on the issue so far. Bajwa told the Prime Minister that post-Partition, when land on which the National Martyrs Memorial at Hussainiwala stands went to Pakistan, India swapped 12 villages near Suleman-ke head works in Fazilka for getting back the land. “We can propose to Pakistan that if it is hands over to India the Kartarpur Sahib Gurdwara area, we will give Pakistan an equivalent portion of land across the Ravi,” Bajwa suggested. “A link with the shrine will be an apt confidence-building measure between
India and Pakistan”, observed Tewari.
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PMET: Police on lookout for 22 imposters
Faridkot, May 18 The police is on the lookout for as many as 22 persons who had impersonated during the PMET-2008 entrance test. Over the last four years, 56 accused, including several medical students, from Shimla, Patna, Lucknow, Kanpur and Delhi have already been arrested. Each of them had allegedly charged Rs 15 lakh for appearing in the test. For ensuring that these “absconders” do not repeat their illegal act, the police has put up huge billboards in Faridkot, Kotkapura and Ferozepur with the photos of the 22 accused on them, said LK Yadav, an IPS officer who has been heading the special investigation team formed for the purpose. A few members of the team have already reached Faridkot. This time round, Baba Farid university is overcautious. It released its list containing examination centres and seating arrangements only yesterday --- three days ahead of the exam. Earlier, the list used to be out several weeks in advance. There would be 48 centres for around 12,000 applicants, all of them in Faridkot, Kotkapura and Ferozepur towns. As the Punjab medical entrance test has been rocked by several controversies, including paper leak and impersonation, in the past, the university has taken the help of the police and civil administration for smooth conduct of the exam. The university would be using biometric machines for identifying the students entering an examination hall. The papers too would have some Punjab-specific questions so that impersonators from other states were not an ease in solving them, said Baba Farid university Vice-Chancellor Dr SS Gill. The university is also allotting a secret code number on answersheets to every candidate so that they are not intentionally replaced, he said.
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New Delhi, May 18 Sukhbir Badal, Deputy Chief Minister of Punjab, who was in Delhi today, said: “The TAPI project will revolutionise Punjab. It will help in industrialisation.” Punjab is already on the Gas Authority of India Limited (GAIL) pipeline grid. Congress MP from Gurdaspur Pratap Singh Bajwa, who is member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Petroleum and Natural Gas, said the Centre should now sanction a Fazilka-Ludhiana-Patiala line. BJP Rajya Sabha MP Avinash Rai Khanna said Punjab would benefit immensely provided the GAIL pipeline network was expanded. Akali MP in the Rajya Sabha Naresh Gujral agreed with him. The MPs feel the project will boost real estate and services sectors.The TAPI gas pipeline is envisaged to be 1680 km long (144 km in Turkmenistan, 735 km in Afghanistan and 800 km in Pakistan). The project is expected to be operational in 2018. — TNS
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Maluka suspends 2 for hiding info
Chandigarh, May 18 Education Minister Sikander Singh Maluka said the department had recently sought information from all districts regarding vacant stations where postings of newly promoted lecturers could be made. He said these two employees, who were dealing assistants, did not disclose information and demanded Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000 from lecturers for the information. Maluka said he has ordered an inquiry against the DEO of both districts and erring staff colluding in this so that deterrent punishment could be meted out to them. He said that he would not spare any employee indulging in such malpractices.
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State targets to generate 1,000-MW more power
Chandigarh, May 18 Reviewing the status of ongoing non-conventional energy programmes in the state, Majithia said the Punjab Government had introduced special incentives for such programmes under NRSC (New and Renewal Source of Energy) scheme 2012 so that the investors could invest in these projects in a big way. He said the Renewal Energy Department had invited investors by offering exemption on VAT, stamp duty, besides abolishing CLU charges and power tariffs. Majithia said by March 2017, all Punjab Government buildings would be equipped with solar energy plants, including schools, hospitals, district administrative complexes, tehsils, courts etc. Majithia said necessary directions in this regard had been issued to the authorities concerned.
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Cooperatives to issue atta-dal
Chandigarh, May 18 An official spokesperson said here today that detailed instructions had been issued to the Secretary, Food and Civil Supplies, and the Financial Commissioner, Co-operation, to ensure hassle-free supply of wheat and pulses to beneficiaries through a network of 3,500 cooperative societies. The spokesperson appealed to the depot holders to call off their strike in the larger public interest as the government was committed to ensure that atta-dal was distributed among the needy at the earliest.
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Centre sends reminder on unutilised funds
The state government is yet to report full utilisation of allocations under the Ministry of Labour’s scheme for upgradation of 400 Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) with World Bank support and establishment of 1,396 ITIs in the public-private partnership (PPP) mode throughout the country. Of these institutes, 27 set up in Punjab are being upgraded under a World Bank project into centres for excellence for producing multi-skill workforce of world standards. “Under the scheme, a sum of Rs 96.91 crore was allocated to Punjab. However, an amount of Rs 36.97 crore remained unutilised upto March 31, 2012. In addition, 76 institutes are being upgraded in the state in the PPP mode. Under this scheme too, cumulative fund utilisation in Punjab was only Rs 23.77 crore against the availability of Rs 190 crore sanctioned on this account,” Minister of State for Planning and Science and Technology Ashwani Kumar wrote in a letter to Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal on May 16. The Centre also brought to the notice of the state that it could make use of the Planning Commission’s scheme under which Rs 60 lakh can be provided for four the border districts of Gurdaspur, Amritsar, Tarn Taran and Ferozepur, with each district getting Rs 15 lakh for a short-term training course to employ youngsters. In this regard, the Planning Commission wrote to Punjab’s PrincipalSecretary (Labour) on November 14 last year. There has been no response so far despite the fact that Punjab’s border districts are most infested with the problem of drug addiction. “An effective utilisation of skill development programmes would vastly enhance the employment capabilities of youngsters of Punjab who are unfortunately becoming increasingly vulnerable to drug addiction on account of unemployment and other factors. “The problem is particularly acute in the border districts of the state. In this context, a purposive implementation of the skill development programme in Punjab would be most useful in addressing this critical concern,” Ashwani Kumar wrote.
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Armed forces institute gets indoor shooting range
Mohali, May 18 The institute will shortly be getting 10 horses from the Army. Construction of a stable is underway and expected to be completed within three months. A 10-metre indoor range for air rifle and air pistol is also expected to be functional within a few weeks in addition to a new swimming pool. These will add to a host of other training facilities for academics, personality development, sports and physical fitness already existing there. The AFPI was set up last year with an aim of motivating and preparing youth from Punjab to join the National Defence Academy (NDA). The first batch of 46 cadets has completed a year of the two-year residential programme and the second batch of an equal number has just joined the institute. “There was a time when almost 30 per cent of the cadets at the NDA were from Punjab. This number is now down to just about two per cent,” AFPI Commandant, Maj Gen BS Grewal (retd), said. “Punjab has always been the sword-arm of the nation. It was felt necessary to take steps to enable youngsters from the state to join the forces. Hence, the AFPI was conceived,” he added.
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Vet varsity seeks hike in budget allocation
Ludhiana, May 18 Dhindsa told the authorities: “The GADVASU’s file has been forwarded to the Secretary, Expenditure. Higher education is the state government’s priority and we will take care of the requirements of the university.” Vice Chancellor VK Taneja said the state government had increased the non-plan budget of the university by about 50 per cent last year. From Rs 27 crore, they agreed to pay about Rs 42 crore last year, he said. "Expenditure of the GADVASU is anything between Rs 45-48 crore per year and we have requested the authorities to provide us this amount for smooth functioning of the university," said Dr Taneja. A faculty member said the state government was encouraging farmers on the issue of diversification. “Fish, dairy and pig farming and poultry remain the best viable options and the GADVASU provides the latest on all these sectors. Still there is not much financial help to the institution by the Punjab Government,” the faculty member said. "Two colleges, namely College of Fisheries and College of Dairy Technology, have been started at the varsity. There are about 80 students in each college. There should be nearly 30 staff members but we have got just a dozen. Research work is also suffering in the absence of funds. If the budget is not increased by the government, the university will not be able to disburse the salaries to employees in the future", said a faculty member.
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10 medical stores raided in Malerkotla
Malerkotla, May 18 The team, led by Drug Inspector Rupinder Kaur Bhanwar, conducted raids at Yameen Medical Hall, located in the Raikot road area, and recovered 2,310 tablets, 175 capsules and 20 bottles of intoxicants from the shop while nearly 664 tablets and 68 capsules were recovered from Kissan Medical Hall, Raikot Road. Rupinder Kaur said SDM Rajesh Tripathi had issued strict instructions to the medical stores against selling intoxicants. She said a case had been registered in this regard.
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Petition dismissed on ‘transport scam’
Chandigarh, May 18 Shergill asserted on January 20, he approached the CBI after drafting a detailed complaint. But, on February 23, he received a copy of communication from CBI SP Vineet Brij Lal to the Director, Punjab Vigilance Bureau, forwarding the matter to him. Shergill said about 12 weeks have passed, but the Vigilance Bureau has not taken any action in the matter. — TNS
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A Rs 2-crore central grant used for metalling a portion of the Moga-Harike-Makhu state highway has virtually gone down the drain due to alleged negligence on the part of four Public Works Department (PWD) officials.
Reviewing the preparations for the foundation stone laying ceremony of Operation Bluestar Memorial scheduled for May 20, Damdami Taksal chief Baba Harnam Singh today confirmed that the memorial will be in the form of a gurdwara near Miri Piri inside the Golden Temple Complex.
Faridkot, May 18
Chandigarh, May 18
Chandigarh, May 18
New Delhi, May 18
New Delhi, May 18